PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen will serve as city’s interim city manager.
He was selected by a unanimous vote of the seven-member Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday to take over after the present city manager, Kent Myers, leaves for his new job as city manager of Fredericksburg, Texas.
Myers, 59, a Texas native, said his last day in City Hall’s top administrative job — a position he has held for three years — will be May 2.
McKeen, 56, has been fire chief for the past 12 years.
He will be given a contract to serve for up to 120 days and will also receive a pay increase while acting as interim city manager. McKeen said he will probably name an acting fire chief to handle that job.
McKeen and Myers plan to work together before Myers departs.
The City Council also voted to hire a professional executive search firm to find a permanent city manager for Port Angeles.
In an interview after the council meeting, McKeen said: “I don’t have any intention of applying for the permanent city manager position.”
McKeen now makes $9,379 a month, which equates to $112,548 annually. He will make $11,255 a month as interim city manager. Myers received salary and benefits of $15,500 a month.
McKeen said he had been contacted by “some” of the council members and asked whether he would consider taking the interim job.
Council members Cherie Kidd, the current mayor, and Dan Di Guilio, the former mayor, spoke in support of McKeen’s appointment during Tuesday’s council meeting.
“I have been giving it quite a bit of thought,” McKeen said before the council vote. “If it is the wish of the council, I would be glad to serve in the capacity of interim city manager.”
The city manager oversees all city departments and is responsible for management of the city’s budget.
